Lawrence Tarbert is also charged with three counts each of fourth-degree felony firearm possession by a felon, third-degree felony tampering with evidence, one count each of third-degree conspiracy to tamper with evidence, fourth-degree larceny of a firearm, fourth-degree larceny over $500 less than $2,500, fourth-degree receiving or disposing of stolen property (firearm) in connection with Pruitt's homicide.

Lawrence Tarbert is jailed at the Otero County Detention Center on a $1 million cash-only bond for the murder charge and a $130,000, no-10 percent bond on his other felony charges.

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"We recovered Pruitt's body and initiated an investigation in 2011," House said. "The Office of the Medical Investigator, on or about June 23, 2011, determined the cause of death was from a gunshot wound to the head. The investigation revealed Pruitt was residing with a couple in the 800 block of Constant Drive in Alamogordo."

House said Pruitt, 25, of Sheffield, Ala., was living at the same residence with Lawrence Tarbert and his wife, Jessica Tarbert, at the time of Pruitt's death.

"It was learned through investigation that Pruitt was a roommate of the couple for several months prior to his death," he said. "The Sheriff's Office followed up on many leads into Pruitt's death. At the end of 2012, it was learned that Lawrence Tarbert and his wife were living in Nelson, Neb. The couple had relocated several times to areas of Colorado and Oklahoma, but ended up in Nelson, Neb."

House said the Sheriff's Office continues their investigation into Pruitt's homicide.

"As leads come into the Sheriff's Office, we look into and investigate them," he said. "We still receive information periodically. We follow up on the information as it comes into our office."

"Lawrence allegedly disposed of evidence related to the crime scene by throwing it over the fence of the vacant lot," he said. "We also conducted a search on Feb. 2 along U.S. Highway 70 from the city limits to Holloman Air Force Base. Jessica allegedly disposed of evidence along the highway, but the evidence in question was not recovered."

Anyone who has equipment and experience in detecting small pieces of metal is encouraged to contact Otero County Undersheriff David Hunter at 437-2210.

Contact Duane Barbati at dbarbati@alamogordonews.com. Follow him on Twitter @DuaneBarbati